| Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision |
| rdms:webapp:search [2025/09/23 08:46] – Re-edit after changes to the styling agreements giulio | rdms:webapp:search [2025/09/23 14:31] (current) – [Key/Value/Extra Search (Combined Metdata)] adjusted search placeholder to the current one (file/folder name) jelte |
|---|
| |
| The search functionality in the RDMS is available in two distinct options: | The search functionality in the RDMS is available in two distinct options: |
| - **[[rdms:webapp:search#general_search|General search]]:** This option allows you to find a file or folder based on various criteria. It uses both file metadata and metadata added by the user to search the system for files and folders fitting the desired parameters. This option does allow you to search for files using metadata entries you created, but if you wish to combine multiple metadata entries into one search, then you need to use the next search option. | - **[[rdms:webapp:search#general_search|General search]]:** This option allows you to find data based on various criteria. It uses both, system-defined metadata and metadata added by the user, to search the system for files and folders fitting the desired parameters. |
| - **[[rdms:webapp:search#search_using_metadata|Key-Value-Extra (KVE) search]]:** This search option is specifically designed for querying using **multiple metadata entries simultaneously**. You can access this search option via the {{:rdms:webapp:wiki_search_avu_1.png?nolink&30|}} button at the top of the search interface. | - **[[rdms:webapp:search#search_using_metadata|Key-Value-Extra (KVE) search]]:** This search option is specifically designed for querying using **multiple metadata entries simultaneously**. You can access this search option via the {{:rdms:webapp:wiki_search_avu_1.png?nolink&30|}} button at the top of the search interface. |
| |
| |
| - {{:rdms:webapp:search_open_new_browser.png?nolink&30|}} button: This button opens the result in a new data browser tab. This will keep the initial search active in the parent tab, should you want to go back to it. | - {{:rdms:webapp:search_open_new_browser.png?nolink&30|}} button: This button opens the result in a new data browser tab. This will keep the initial search active in the parent tab, should you want to go back to it. |
| - {{:rdms:webapp:search_open_current_browser.png?nolink&30|}} button: This button opens the result in the Data Browser. This replaces the search window with the Data Browser open in the location of the file you found. If you want to return to the search, you will have to navigate back to the search window from the left-side Menu and perform the search again. | - {{:rdms:webapp:search_open_current_browser.png?nolink&30|}} button: This button opens the result in the current tab. This replaces the search window with the Data Browser open in the location of the data you found. If you want to return to the search, you will have to navigate back to the search window from the left-side Menu and perform the search again. |
| |
| {{ :rdms:webapp:search_new_vs_current_tab.png?direct&850 |}} | {{ :rdms:webapp:search_new_vs_current_tab.png?direct&850 |}} |
| ==== General Search ==== | ==== General Search ==== |
| |
| To perform the most basic form of searching for data, you can specify the search term in the top-right box in the search engine and then execute the search by clicking on the {{:rdms:webapp:search_icon.png?nolink&25|}} icon (see screenshot). | To perform the most basic form of searching for data, you can specify the search term in the top box in the search engine and then execute the search by clicking on the {{:rdms:webapp:search_icon.png?nolink&25|}} icon (see screenshot). |
| |
| {{ :rdms:webapp:rdms_search_simple_1.png?direct&850 |}} | {{ :rdms:webapp:rdms_search_simple_1.png?direct&850 |}} |
| |
| This method of searching makes the RDMS look for the specified term in any part of the metadata attached to your files and folders. In other words, it does not matter if the term is contained in the file name, the file path, or any of the metadata entries attached to the file. As long as the term is contained somewhere, the file will be shown as a result in the search. | This simple method of searching looks for the specified term in the name of any files and folders. |
| |
| If you want to target a specific metadata entry in your search, you can adjust the search criteria by directly searching for a specific metadata value, key, or extra value. You can modify the path where the search needs to be performed, and you can also indicate whether you want to search for files and folders, or only for one of the two. Other options as to what you can adjust in the search are visible in the screenshot above and explained in the text below. | If you want to target a specific metadata entry in your search, you can adjust the search criteria by searching for a specific metadata value, key, or extra value. You can modify the path where the search needs to be performed, and you can also indicate whether you want to search for files and folders, or only for one of the two. Other options as to what you can adjust in the search are visible in the screenshot above and explained in the text below. |
| |
| {{ :rdms:webapp:rdms_search_simple_2.png?direct&850 |}} | {{ :rdms:webapp:rdms_search_simple_2.png?direct&850 |}} |
| **Note:** The ''%'' sign in the green box explanation is the wildcard sign for the RDMS search. Its meaning is that whatever is not contained by two ''%'' signs or does precede or follow it, does not matter. Example: "%cube" would find all entries that are either the exact word "cube" or that end in the word "cube", no matter with what other term they start. Please keep in mind that the position of the ''%'' sign matters when performing a search. | **Note:** The ''%'' sign in the green box explanation is the wildcard sign for the RDMS search. Its meaning is that whatever is not contained by two ''%'' signs or does precede or follow it, does not matter. Example: "%cube" would find all entries that are either the exact word "cube" or that end in the word "cube", no matter with what other term they start. Please keep in mind that the position of the ''%'' sign matters when performing a search. |
| |
| ==== Search Using Metadata ==== | ==== Key/Value/Extra Search (Combined Metdata) ==== |
| |
| While the general search window can also be used to search based on metadata, the separate Key-Value-Extra (KVE) search was specifically designed to facilitate queries that use multiple, combined metadata values as the search criteria. | While the general search window can also be used to search based on metadata, the separate Key/Value/Extra (KVE) search was specifically designed to facilitate queries that use multiple, combined metadata values as the search criteria. |
| |
| To perform a KVE search, first access the KVE tab ({{:rdms:webapp:wiki_search_avu_1.png?nolink&25|}}) from the top of the search view. You will see that the KVE search contains search fields for metadata keys (K), metadata values (V), and metadata extra values (E), while the "Enter a text to search for" function that was available in the general search is not available here. | To perform a KVE search, first access the KVE tab ({{:rdms:webapp:wiki_search_avu_1.png?nolink&25|}}) from the top of the search view. You will see that the KVE search contains search fields for metadata keys (K), metadata values (V), and metadata extra values (E), while the "File/folder name..." option that was available in the general search is not available here. |
| |
| {{ :rdms:webapp:rdms_search_kve_1.png?direct&850 |}} | {{ :rdms:webapp:rdms_search_kve_1.png?direct&850 |}} |
| **Note:** Please consider that the fast search will perform an "Exact Match" search for a term and look for the term in all four fields of the general search window. This function has been developed mainly for users with a long file list to check, who would otherwise have to wait for an unreasonably long time for the search results to appear. The fast search is thus not a "fast access to the search function", but rather a "search performed fast". If you do not have long waiting times when performing searches, it is better to navigate to the search window and perform a search as described in the previous sections to obtain more meaningful results. | **Note:** Please consider that the fast search will perform an "Exact Match" search for a term and look for the term in all four fields of the general search window. This function has been developed mainly for users with a long file list to check, who would otherwise have to wait for an unreasonably long time for the search results to appear. The fast search is thus not a "fast access to the search function", but rather a "search performed fast". If you do not have long waiting times when performing searches, it is better to navigate to the search window and perform a search as described in the previous sections to obtain more meaningful results. |
| |
| ==== More advanced Search Syntax ==== | ==== More Advanced Search Syntax ==== |
| |
| In previous sections, we already anticipated some of the special characters that you can use in the input fields to signal to the RDMS that you want to perform a special operation during the search. When you specify a search term in the field, it is important to know that you can also use additional wildcard characters in your query. These wildcard characters are: | In previous sections, we already anticipated some of the special characters that you can use in the input fields to signal to the RDMS that you want to perform a special operation during the search. When you specify a search term in the field, it is important to know that you can also use additional wildcard characters in your query. These wildcard characters are: |
| **Note:** As seen above, you can use wildcards to further fine-tune your search results. With other settings that are available in the search interface, together with the possibility to use metadata, these advanced search techniques offer a lot of capability to obtain precise results tailored to your specific requirements. | **Note:** As seen above, you can use wildcards to further fine-tune your search results. With other settings that are available in the search interface, together with the possibility to use metadata, these advanced search techniques offer a lot of capability to obtain precise results tailored to your specific requirements. |
| |
| ==== Filtering your Search Results ==== | ==== Filtering Your Search Results ==== |
| |
| In some cases, your search parameters might return a pool of results that is too large to find what you are looking for. The figure below shows you that the RDMS Web interface also warns you when the number of results exceeds 10.000. | In some cases, your search parameters might return a pool of results that is too large to find what you are looking for. The figure below shows you that the RDMS Web interface also warns you when the number of results exceeds 10.000. |
| * The report will contain system-defined metadata added by default ("Data type", "Size", "Creator", "Modified"), even if you did not add any user-defined metadata. | * The report will contain system-defined metadata added by default ("Data type", "Size", "Creator", "Modified"), even if you did not add any user-defined metadata. |
| |
| === Using Export Search Results As Function === | === Using the "Export Search Results as" Function === |
| |
| The "Export search results as..." function allows you to directly create an exportable CSV from your search results. If you select this option from the search view, you will be asked where your exportable CSV should be saved within the RDMS. Afterwards, you are asked to select the export type (data, metadata, and/or permissions), and to specify a name for your export (a default value is automatically filled in). | The "Export search results as..." function allows you to directly create an exportable CSV from your search results. If you select this option from the search view, you will be asked where your exportable CSV should be saved within the RDMS. Afterwards, you are asked to select the export type (data, metadata, and/or permissions), and to specify a name for your export (a default value is automatically filled in). |